Switch mechanism



Oct. 9, 1928. Y

J. B. M NElLL El AL SWITCH MECHANISM a Sheets-Sheet INVENTORS; \firhn 5.Mac Ive/ll Andrew H. fink/fen and Cur/is A file/fer: BY

ATTORNEY Filed Nov. 2, 1921 I WITNESSES: WfiM. M i

INVENTORS John & I70: Ale/ll Andrew M Bakken and BY Eur/is 4. Tucker.

ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. B. M NElLL ET AL SWITCH MECHANISM FiledNov. 2. 1921 Oct. 9, 1928.

WITNESSES:- i/QM Oct. 9,1928.

J. B. M NElLL ETAL SWITCH MEGHANI SM Filed Nov. 2. 1921 a Sheets-SheetINVENTORS John B. fiac/Yw'll, Andrew Ii flakkon and BY Curfl': A. 72/4.

\ WITNESSES:

' ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 1928.

omen sin-r3 1 JOHN B'." MACNEILL, or WILKIN BU G, ANnANnnnw H. BAKKENAm) CURTIS A..

rtioxnn, or nnonwoonyrnimsynvnmn ASSIGNORS 'ro WESTINGHOUSE ELEC- rareAND mnnurao'runrna ooMrnnY, a oonronarron or PENNSYLVANIA.

' swrroii MECHANISM.

Application 'filed November 2.19531. Serial. No. 512,194.

. Our invention relates to switch 'mechanism' and particularly to switchinechanismfor interrupting high-power circuits and which includes adisconnecting switch and an oil switchor circuit breaker.

One object of our invention-is to provide a combined disconnectingswitch and circuit breaker which constitutes a complete unit,

such, as'is particularly adapt-edfor use on boats or in other locationswhere space economy'is essential or desirable.

Another object ofv our invention is to pro-..

posed relation in order to constitute a' compact bank of switches, allof which arereadily accessible for inspection and repair.

Another object of our invention is to pro-.

vide switch mechanisiri with a simple and effective operating mechanismof such character that two or more switch devices may be convenientlyconnected for simultaneous operation and wherein theoperating mechanismof co-operating switch devices may be disconnected when desired, butonly whenthe switches are open.

Another obJect of our invention is to pro vide switch mechanism.havingthe abovecharacteristics wherein the disconnecting vide a combineddisconnectingswitch and;

- I locked that the formercannot be opened so as long as thelatter is inclosed position, I

Another object of our invention isto provide a combined disconnectingswitch and circuit bre'aker wherein the'circuit breaker cannot be closedso long as the disconnecting here 7 are secured to terminal members 9'which extend through insulating bushings switchisopen. I I g Another obect ofjour invention isto'procircuit breaker wherein the circuitbreaker' 'is movable bodily into andout of engagement with thedisconnecting switch and wherein bodily movement of the circuitbreakeris precluded so long as the circuit breaker is v V l between thebracket 13 and the support 5 and are secured thereto at their upperends.

closed.

Another obiectof our invention is to "provide a convenient disconnectingswitch and oil circuit breaker wherein the oil tank for enclosing thecircuit breaker cannot be removed commercial angle iron.

position, and wherein the circuit breaker cannot be closed while thetank is in such position that it may be either removed or replaced.

A further object of our invention is to provide a combined disconnectingswitch and circuit breaker wherein the circuit breaker isopen'ed with aquick action. I

These and other objects that will be made apparent throughout thefurther description of the invention are attained by means of the switchmechanism hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

- 1 Figure 1 is a View ofour switch mechanism,

"partially in section and partially in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View of afragment of the device shown in Fig; 1, partiallyin section and partially in elevation, andshowing details of'theinterlocking mechanism, and Fig. 4 s a front elevational view showing a,portion of the switch mechanism. Referring to the drawings, theapparatus includes a structural frame which consists of a plurality ofupright members formed of hers are connected by means of a cast-metalsupport'5i which is secured thereto by means of bolt 6., The support 5serves to rigidly connect the uprightmembers andto support thestationary contact members 7 of the disconnecting switch 8. V V

Theswitchmechanism herein illustrated is of the three-pole type and,therefore, six of the stationary clisconnectingswitch. contact members 7are required. The contact memswitch mechanism are connected by means ofa metal bracket'13, which serves to support the lower ends of guide bars14 which extend Theguide bars 14 provide a. guide for a supporting frame'15 upon which the circuit breaker is mounted. The support 15 is pro--The upright memvided with twoslee'vedike structures 16 which areslidably mounted on the guide bars 1% and permit vertical movement ofthe supporting frame w h respect to the support 5.

The disconnecting switch comprises three pairs of contact members 2 thatare adapted to move with the frame and engage corresponding contactmembers 7 of the disconnecting switch 8. Each contact member comprises aconductor bar 17 which extends through insulating bushings 18 and 19that are disposed on 01 osite sides of the frame 15. The upper end ofthe bar 1'? is provided with a contact member 21 having taperedblade-like members 22 which register with the yielding switch members2-3 of th contact members 7 ot the disconnecting switch. The lower endof the conductor bar 17 is provided with a pair of switch-j aw men bers2-l that are somewhat similar to the contact-j aw members 23 on thecontact members 7. The insulating bushings 19 are secured to the frame15 by means of bolts 25 and serve to support the contact bar on thetrams and insulate it therefrom.

As illustrated in the drawing it will be seen that the contact membersTand the contact members 20 are arranged in three pairs upon thesupporting stru we and it will be understood that the currentthrougheach phase 01" the switch passes through one of the terminals 9,downwardly thr ugh the conducting bar 17, across the oil-switch memberto be hereinafter describec, and upwardly through the conducting bar 17of the other contact member of the pair and finally through the otherterminal member 9.

Each oil switch for connecting the contactjaw members 24 of each pair ofcontact members consists of a bar 26 upon theends 'of which are carriedtapered wedge-like contact members 27 that are adapted to conductivelyengage the contact-jaw members 24 when moved upwardly with respectthereto. The bars 26 of each switch are supported upon downwardlyprojecting rods 28 that are suspended from a movable supporting member29 which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is mounted between the contactmembers-2O of the different sets thereof. The support 29 is suspended bymeans of a link 31 from the rocking link 32 t-hat is pivoted. at itsfront end, to the supporting frame 15 by means of a pin The link 82 issupported in its elevated or closed position, indicated in Fig. 1, bymeans of a link 34: that is pivoted at one end, to the central portionof the link 32 by means or" a shaft- 35 and, at its lower end, to anoperating lever 36 by means oi apin The lever B is pivoted to thesupport 15 by means of a pin 38, and the short end 39 of the lever 36,together with the link 34. constitutes a toggle which serves to hold thelink 32 and the switch mechanism in closed position when the togglelinks are in the made position indicated in Fig. 1, wherein it will beseen that the shaft or knee pivot 37 ot the toggle occupies a positionslightly above a line traversing the axes of the pins 38 and .Vhen thetoggle is in the made position, the long end of the lever 36 engages thesupport at the point ell which prevents further counter-clockwisemovement of the lever and holds the toggle in the made position.

The oil switch or circuitbreaker is operated by means of an operatingrod 42 which is provided, at its upper end, with a slot 4t?) in whichthe pin of the lever 36 operates. l he rod 42 is provided, at its lowerend, with a slot 45 through which a pin 46 projects and which serves asguide for the lower end of the rod 42. The rod 42 may be connected to anoperating rod 4i? which serves to operate a similar oil switch arrangedin :1. tier di-.

rectly beneath the switch her 11 illustrated or may be attached to anypreferred operating means, as desired.

In order to open the circuit breaker by moving the contact members 27downwardly out of engagement with the contact-jaw members 24, theoperating rod 4-2 is moved upwardly un the lower end at the slot 43engages the pin :4 of the lever 36. The upper end of the slot 43 willthen be raised above the pin 4% and will permit of movement thereof whenthe lev r 36 has finally been moved upwardly until the pin 53? ot thetoggle knee has been moved downwardly past the dead center of the Whenthis occurred, the toggle will collapse into broken position and permitthe switch-contact members 27 to fall away from the contact-j aw members2 lwith a quick action by reason of the force of gravity. Downwardmovement of the operating l 1-2 will. cause the switch members to beraised into engagement with the contact-j aw members 2 1- and close thecircuit breaker.

As shown in the drawings, the contact members 22 are in 'ement with thecontact-jaw members 23 of the disconnecting s Jitch 8. hen it is desiredto open the disconnecting switch. the frame 15 is awered to move thecircuit breaker bodily away therefrom. The circuit breaker 1 bodilymoved by means of an operating lever 48 that is pivoted to the frame 13for rotation about the shaft or pin 49. The lever 4-8 is connected tothe supporting frame 15 by means of a l nk 51 that is pivoted, its lowerend, to the lever r 2 and, at its upper end.

ms of a sl aft or pin l iii to, the disconnecting switch is in closedposition and the operating handle 48 is in its lowermost pos on. hen theoperating lever is 1 1 'ed to tne position indicated by broken lines inFig. 1. the lint 51 is drawn downwardly to tile position indicated bybroken lines and the pivot shall 53 is moved to the position indicatedill) lot

dotted lines. The entire circuit breaker is moved downwardly and thecontact members 22 thereof are moved out of engagement from thecontact-jaw members 23 of the disconneco ing switch. When theoperatingilever 4.8 is returned to its original position, the frame 51is moved upwardly, carrying with it the contact members which are movedinto on gage-merit with the contact-jaw members 28. -Itw1ll be observed,by reference to Figs.

I 51 and the lever 48. Therefore, the circuit breaker is automaticallyreta nod i n-closed position.

v A tank 54: is secured'to the underside of the frame 15 by means ofsuspension rocs 55 whichai e secured to the frame 15 at their upper endsand project downwardly beyond the bottom of the tank 54 at oppositesidesthere of. The lower ends of the rods 55 are threaded and the tank issupported upon. bars 5 having perforations through which the rodsextend. The bars 56 are retained upon the rods 55 by means of wing nuts57, and the tank 54 is supported upon the bars'56. It willbe seen fromthe foregoing that, when the wing nuts are removed, the bars 56 may beremoved and-the oil tank 54 detached from the support 15 for the purposeof filling or for the inspection and repair of y the" circuitbreakerparts. p I

It is an object of our invention to prevent opening movement of thedisconnecting 5 switch while the circuit breaker is closed and toprevent the closing of the circuit breaker while the disconnectingswitch is open.

- Means are, therefore, provided to insure the proper sequence ofoperation of the disconnecting switch and the circu t breaker and Imeans are also providedto prevent theremoval of the oil tank so long, asthe circuit breaker is in closed position, or so long): as thedisconnecting switch is inclosed posi ion.

Referring to the drawings, and. narticu larly to Figs. 1 and 3,:it willbe seen that the operati g rod 42 is provided with allup; 58 havingarcuate ends. The operating lever 48 is provided with an arcuate recess59 having a curvature corresponding with the curvature of the ends ofthe lug 58. \Vhen the disconnecting switch and the circuit breaker arein the closed positions ilustrated in g. 1, the upper portion of the lug58 is disposed across the path of movement of the lug .61 secured to theoperating lever48. By reason 1 of the position of the lug58,clockwise"rotation of the lever 48 is prevented and, co nsequently,the cireuit breaker cannot be lowered away from the disconnecting switchso long as the operating rod 412 and the contact members 27 of thecircuit breaker are in closed position. 1V hen the circuit breaker hasbeen moved to open position by upward movement of the rod 12 to itsextreme upper gosition, the lug 58 is moved to the posit on indicated inbro-ken lines in 1 and out of the path 1 of movement of the lug 61 ofthe operating ca ed in d; in Fig. the arcuate recessec portion '09 ofthe lever prevent either ward'or downwai'dniovement of the operie've"bcr e the curved portions carried on the rod 41-2. It will be seen,therefore, that, so long as the contact members 22 are out o en asementwith the contact-Jaw in nbers 23 of the disconnecting switch, clos- Theoperating lever 18 is provided .with anarn'i (5:2 which projectsrearwardly in such in nner that the end thereof is disposed beneath thetank 5 1 when the disconnecting switch is closed or when the circuitbreaker and tank are in raised position.

as the arm 62 remains in a position beneath the tank, and the tank can,therefore, only be removed after the operating lever 48 has moved toopen position wherein the discontin -switch elements are in openposition. "In order to insure that the operating rod 412 maynot bedisconnected from the connectins rod 47 write the circuit breaker is inclosed position, a guard plate 68 is secured to the oracket 13 and isprovided with a circu" l-ar n9; 6% with which a connecting pin 65, whichserves to connect the rod 42 with the'connecting rod 47, registers onlywhen the rod 12 isin its open position. The pin 65 may then be withdrawnfronithe connect- 'ingr rod 17 through the perforation 64.

It will be seen from the foregoing that each raned'so that'the partsthereof are readily accessible. from the front and the rear of thesupi'iorting structure.

lVhile we have described and illustrated but one embodiment of ourinvention, it will V It is, there 'fore, impossible to remove the tankso long *nd over the ends of thelug' 58,

t of the circuit breaker is prebe apparent to those skilled in the artthat various changes, modifications, substitutions, a "*ions andomissions may be made in the apparatus illustrated Without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appendedclaims.

We claim as our invention:

1. Switch mechanism comprising a switch member movable to open andclosed positions, means for operating the said switch member, aconnector therefor, a pin for 1 tachably connectin the operating meansithe connector, and a perforate plate for pre venting disconnection ofthe said pin so long as the switch member is in closed position.

2. Switch mechanism comprising a switch member movable to open to closedpo sition, detachable means operating the said switch member comprisingan operatinr rod and a pin, and a perforate plate for pre rentingremoval of the pin so long as the switch is in closed position.

8. Switch mechanism comprising a disconnecting switch contact member, acirci' b breaker movable bodily into and out of engagement with the saidcontact member, means for bodily moving the circuit breaker,

a tank enclosing the circuit breaker and supported thereon anddetachable therefrom and ans carried by the said moving means forpreventing disconnection of the tank from the circuit breaker While thesaid reaker is in engagement with the said contact member.

Switch mechanism comprising a disconneu switch contact member, a circuitreaker movable bodily into and out of enig'en ent with the said contactmember, a tan: enclosing the ircuit breaker and supl ported thereon anddetachable therefrom, means the circuit breaker into and out ofengagement with the said contact me ibcr and means associated v' th thesaid means for preventing disconnection of the tank i r m the saidcircuitbreaker While the brwlzer is engagement with the said contacmember.

in testimony whereof, We have hereunto subscribed our names this 24thday of October, 192

